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The short answer
Go to the police station covering the area where the document was lost, report the loss to the officer at the counter and ask for an extract of the entry in the station or crime diary. The extract should name you, describe the document and the circumstances, and be signed and stamped by the station's commanding officer. A Nigeria Police Special Fraud Unit officer has stated that there are no fees for requesting a police report.
What a police extract is
When you report something at a Nigerian police station, the officer records it in the station diary or crime diary. A police extract is a signed copy of that entry on police letterhead. Banks, NIMC, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Corporate Affairs Commission, schools and exam bodies ask for it when you need a replacement document, because it shows that the loss was formally reported before anyone issues a new copy. It does not prove the loss happened; it proves you reported it.
Researchers for the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada collected two sample titles in their 2018 report: a "Station Diary Extract" from an Ikeja station and a "Crime Diary Extract" from Osun State. Either name is used for the same purpose.
Where to go
According to a Special Fraud Unit public relations officer quoted in that report, a police report "can be obtained only from the police station that recorded the complaint or incident". So report at the station that covers the place the document went missing, or, if you do not know where, the station nearest your home. Later copies must come from that same station.
Steps
- Gather what you can about the lost item: its number (NIN, passport, account, certificate number), date issued, and a photocopy or photo if you have one.
- Go to the station in person. The same report notes that a report generally cannot be obtained in absentia.
- Explain to the counter officer what was lost, where and when, and ask that it be entered in the diary.
- Write or sign a short statement if asked.
- Ask for the extract. It needs approval by the station's commanding officer (often the Divisional Police Officer) and must be signed by that officer.
- Check every detail before you leave, then make copies.
Some institutions also ask for a sworn affidavit of loss from a court registry. That is a separate document with its own court fee; see how to swear an affidavit. A lawyer quoted in the 2018 report described the affidavit being recorded in the crime diary and an extract issued from it, but that was not corroborated. In separate 2011 research, a Special Fraud Unit officer said a sworn High Court affidavit is accepted in Nigeria and was sufficient for a passport application in place of a birth record, which shows how much weight affidavits carry. Ask the receiving institution which documents it wants.
What the extract should contain
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Police letterhead, logo and name of the station | Shows it was issued by that station; the report says reports carry the police logo and the issuing unit's name |
| Your full name as on the lost document | Must match the replacement application |
| Description and number of the document | Lets the issuer cancel the old one |
| Date, place and circumstances of the loss | Required by most issuers |
| Diary entry reference and date of report | Lets the station confirm it later |
| Signature and stamp of the commanding officer | Without it, many institutions reject the extract |
The no-fee point
The Special Fraud Unit officer said plainly that "there are no fees incurred by requesting a police report". Many people are still asked for money for "paper", "stationery" or "logistics". You may choose to photocopy your own documents, but there is no official charge for the extract itself. If you are asked to pay, ask politely for an official receipt, and if the request persists, note the officer's name and number. The Nigeria Police Force runs complaint channels, and our guide on reporting fraud to the police and EFCC covers how to escalate.
Worked example
Example only. Chika loses her purse at a market in Surulere with her driver's licence and a bank card inside. She blocks the card through her bank first, then reports at the station covering the market. The extract names both items, lists the licence number from a photo on her phone, and records the date and place. She uses the same extract for the FRSC reissue and to support her bank's card replacement form.
What to check first
- Block any bank card or SIM before you go to the station.
- Ask the institution issuing the replacement whether it wants an extract, an affidavit, or both.
- Make sure the spelling of your name matches your NIN and BVN records; see BVN vs NIN.
- Keep the original extract; give copies unless the original is demanded.
Where Pryme fits
If your phone was lost with the document, Pryme sign-in uses an authenticator app rather than SMS codes and payments need your transaction PIN; security explains how to secure your account and contact lists support routes.
Questions people ask
How much is police report for lost document in Nigeria?
A Nigeria Police Special Fraud Unit officer stated that there are no fees for requesting a police report. If you are asked to pay, ask for an official receipt.
Can I get a police extract online?
The station that recorded the report issues the extract, and sources say it generally cannot be obtained in absentia. Go to the station in person.
Do I need an affidavit and a police report for a lost NIN slip or passport?
Requirements differ by issuer. Some want a police extract, some a court affidavit of loss, some both. Ask the issuing agency first.
Which police station should I report a lost document to?
The station covering where it was lost, or the nearest station if you do not know. Later copies come only from that station.
Sources
- IRB Canada via ecoi.net: Nigeria, police reports and extracts (Nov 2018) · accessed Oct 2026
- IRB Canada via ecoi.net: Nigeria, NPC birth certificates and attestation letters (NGA103787.E, Aug 2011) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.